POE 2 Ascendancy Respec Guide: How to Rework Your Build

If you’ve ever felt stuck with a clunky Ascendancy build in Path of Exile 2, Grinding Gear Games (GGG) just threw you a lifeline. In their latest announcement, the developers confirmed that Ascendancy respeccing is coming to the game with the next major patch—and it’s not just a simple reset button. This guide breaks down how the system works, why it matters, and how to leverage it to dominate the endgame.

Why Ascendancy Respecs Are a Big Deal

For years, Path of Exile players have treated Ascendancy choices as permanent commitments. Once you picked a subclass (like Titan or Deadeye), you were locked into its passive tree and playstyle unless you started a new character. But in PoE 2, where build experimentation is central to the game’s design, this rigidity clashed with player freedom.

The new respec system fixes this by letting you:

Redo Trials to regain Ascendancy points.
Swap subclass branches without restarting your character.
Adapt to meta shifts during the Early Access phase, where skills and gems are constantly tweaked.

How to Respec Your Ascendancy: Step-by-Step

Based on GGG’s dev post, here’s how the system will work once the patch drops:

1. Redo the Required Trials

To reset your Ascendancy, you must replay the Trials that originally granted your Ascendancy points. For example:

If you’ve unlocked 8 Ascendancy points, you’ll need to complete the corresponding Tier 4 Trial of Chaos and Tier 8 Trial of Sekhemas.
Trials scale to your current level, so prepare for a challenge even if you’re overgeared.

2. Visit the Ascension Device NPCs

After completing the Trials, head to the Ascension Device in your hideout or town. Two key NPCs facilitate the respec:

Balbala: A new NPC near the device who lets you refund Ascendancy points.
Trial Master: Handles point reallocation for subclass branches.

3. Rebuild Your Subclass

Once your points are refunded, you can:

Switch to a different branch of your current Ascendancy (e.g., from a minion-focused Infernalist to a curse-focused one).
Experiment with hybrid builds by mixing passive nodes from multiple branches.

Who Should Use This System?

While respeccing is a powerful tool, it’s not for everyone. Prioritize it if:

1. Your Final Ascendancy Branch Feels Weak

Many players report that late-game Ascendancy nodes (e.g., Tier 6-8 passives) underperform compared to early choices. If your build’s “capstone” ability isn’t delivering, a respec can salvage your progression.

2. You’re Testing Experimental Builds

With the Gemcutting UI (also added in the patch), you can now track all equipped skill gems in one tab. Pair this with Ascendancy respecs to test synergies between gems and subclass passives.

3. You’re Stuck in Tower/Hideout Maps

The patch introduces extra rare bosses in Tower and Hideout Maps to help players meet clear conditions. Respeccing into a boss-killing Ascendancy can turn these roadblocks into farmable content.

What Else Is in the Reset Patch?

GGG’s update isn’t just about Ascendancies. Key additions include:

1. Gemcutting Quality-of-Life

A dedicated tab shows all equipped skill gems, their levels, and linked supports. No more digging through gear to find that Level 21 Fireball gem!
This is crucial for builds relying on gem swaps (e.g., Spell Totem users).

2. New Boss Mechanics

Tower Maps now spawn Voidbound Colossus—a rare boss with phase-shifting abilities.
Hideout Maps feature Shadowweaver, a stealth-based enemy that demands AoE skills or minion armies.

3. Early Access Balancing

Overpowered skills like Frostblink and Chain Hook receive nerfs.
Underused Ascendancies get buffs to passive node effects.

Pro Tips for a Smooth Respec

1. Farm Trial Keys in Advance

Trials require Trial Keys, which drop from endgame map bosses. Stock up before the patch to avoid delays.

2. Combine Respecs with Gear Overhauls

Swapping from a tanky Titan to a glass-cannon Warbringer? Pair your respec with evasion-focused gear (e.g., Wind Dancer Boots or Cloak of Defiance).

3. Use the Trial Master’s Preview Mode

The Trial Master lets you simulate build changes before committing. Test different passive combinations to avoid wasting points.

Why GGG Is Making This Change

In a recent interview, lead developer Jonathan Rogers explained:

“We want players to treat Ascendancies as evolving tools, not lifelong marriages. The respec system encourages creativity without undermining the weight of your choices.”

This philosophy aligns with PoE 2’s broader shift toward adaptive playstyles, where mid-game pivots are not just possible but rewarding.